"Romance" is a piece from Fosteriana: Visions of America, an extended solo piano work commissioned by Klara Min. The title Fosteriana refers to the great American songwriter Stephen Foster (1826–1864), whose work helped inspire the depictions of life and events in the early nineteenth century. The work presents a range of styles, moods, and degrees of seriousness, treating topics varying from the horse race and the minstrel show to abolition and the Civil War. The songs of Stephen Foster appear in many of the pieces, sometimes obviously, more often indirectly. “Romance” depicts the nostalgic longing for a lover and is based on melodic ideas from Foster’s famous “Beautiful Dreamer.” The main theme of “Romance” builds directly on the main theme of “Beautiful Dreamer,” and, after the piece’s climax, a quiet coda features Foster’s theme moving slowly in the bass, in the manner of a sacred cantus firmus. Klara Min
Classical Music | Piano Music
Henry Martin
Romance Play
Recorded on 08/24/2011, uploaded on 02/28/2012
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
"Romance" is a piece from Fosteriana: Visions of America, an extended solo piano work commissioned by Klara Min. The title Fosteriana refers to the great American songwriter Stephen Foster (1826–1864), whose work helped inspire the depictions of life and events in the early nineteenth century. The work presents a range of styles, moods, and degrees of seriousness, treating topics varying from the horse race and the minstrel show to abolition and the Civil War. The songs of Stephen Foster appear in many of the pieces, sometimes obviously, more often indirectly. “Romance” depicts the nostalgic longing for a lover and is based on melodic ideas from Foster’s famous “Beautiful Dreamer.” The main theme of “Romance” builds directly on the main theme of “Beautiful Dreamer,” and, after the piece’s climax, a quiet coda features Foster’s theme moving slowly in the bass, in the manner of a sacred cantus firmus. Klara Min
Performances by same musician(s)
Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise, Op. 22
Three Novelettes for piano
Okbinyo from "Go Poong"
Impromptu no. 1 in A-flat major Op. 29
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.